Gliese 12b
Gliese 12b is an exoplanet orbiting Gliese 12 a red dwarf star, approximately 39 lightyears from the Solar system.[1][2]
Its mass is believed to be between that of Planet Earth and Planet Venus.[1][2] It orbit takes just 12.8 days, but, since its star is 0.24 percent as massive as Sol, our sun, and is much dimmer, it is believed to lie in the habitable zone.
The planet's discoverers, at the W. M. Keck Observatory, asked whether the planet was an "Earth Twin or Evil Twin"? It receives 1.6 the instellation of Earth, while hot and inhospitable Venus receives 1.9.[3]
References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ 1.0 1.1
Caroline Gall (2024-05-23). "Researchers discover Earth-sized planet Gliese 12 b". BBC News. Archived from the original on 2025-10-20. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
The planet’s equivalent of the Sun, called Gliese 12, is a cool, red dwarf located in the constellation Pisces and the planet receives 1.6 times more energy from its star as Earth does from the sun, the university said.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1
"Potentially Habitable Earth-Sized Exoplanet Discovered around Gliese 12". Science News. 2024-05-23. Archived from the original on 2025-05-31. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
Otherwise known as TOI-6251 or GJ 12, this star is only about 27% of the Sun’s size, with about 60% of the Sun’s surface temperature.
- ↑
"Earth Twin or Evil Twin". W. M. Keck Observatory. 2024-05-23. Archived from the original on 2026-05-10. Retrieved 2026-07-04.
Based on this data, the team believes that Gliese 12 b is an “evil twin,” more like Venus than like Earth. But they cannot rule out the possibility that Gliese 12 b is an “Earth twin” with liquid water on its surface. Further observations will determine if Gliese 12 b is an “evil twin” or an “Earth twin.” In either case, studying Gliese 12 b in finer detail will give a better idea of the prerequisites for a life-friendly environment to develop on a planet.